Squib Circuit Testing via Characterizing Resistors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire protection systems in aircraft face challenges in reducing the weight and complexity of squib circuits while maintaining their functionality, as they often require extensive wiring and separate circuits for each squib, which can lead to increased expense and weight.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating characterizing resistors with unique resistance values into the squib circuit, connected to a test switch and power source, which generates an electrical signature indicating the health of each squib, allowing for monitoring and testing without causing detonation, thus reducing the need for extensive wiring and separate circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If a single line of wire is connected to all squibs to reduce overall length and weight, then the weight and complexity of the wiring is reduced, but a failure in one of the squibs can render the entire squib circuit useless
Solution Approach 1:
The squib circuit is segmented into multiple independent parallel branches, each containing a squib with its associated characterizing resistor. This segmentation ensures that a failure in one branch does not affect the operation of other branches, maintaining circuit reliability while using a single wire line to connect all squibs.
Solution Approach 2:
Each squib branch is given a unique local quality through the assignment of a specific characterizing resistor with a distinct resistance value. This allows the monitoring circuit to identify and assess the health of individual squibs or branches locally, enabling targeted diagnostics without requiring separate wiring for each squib.
2Reliability
If separate circuits are connected through the same test switch and discharge switch for each fire extinguishing bottle, then the availability of the squibs is increased, but the expense, complexity, and weight are greater than desired
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple squib circuits are merged into a single wire line while maintaining electrical independence through parallel branching. The shared test switch and discharge switch further consolidate control functions, reducing the number of separate control circuits needed while preserving the ability to individually monitor and activate each squib branch.
Solution Approach 2:
The single wire line serving the parallel squib branches performs multiple functions: it provides power delivery to all squibs, enables individual monitoring through characterizing resistors, and allows selective activation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated circuits for each squib, reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If characterizing resistors are electrically connected to the test switch and squibs, then the electrical signature indicates the health of each squib, but additional components are added to the circuit
Solution Approach 1:
Each characterizing resistor is assigned an asymmetric, unique resistance value that differs from all other characterizing resistors in the circuit. This asymmetry creates distinct electrical signatures for each squib branch, enabling the monitoring circuit to precisely identify and assess the health of individual squibs based on their unique resistance characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient monitoring and testing of squib circuits, identifying operational or failed squibs, and reduces the weight and complexity of the system by using a single circuit with a test switch, while maintaining desired operational levels.
Implementation Method 1
The characterizing resistors are electrically connected to the test switch in the squib circuit. The characterizing resistors are electrically connected to the squibs in which each characterizing resistor in the characterizing resistors has a resistance value. An electrical signature of the squib circuit based on the characterizing resistors indicates a health of the squib circuit.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, apparatus, and method for testing a squib circuit. An electrical signature of the squib circuit is monitored when a test switch in the squib circuit is activated. The electrical signature of the squib circuit is based on characterizing resistors electrically connected to squibs in the squib circuit in which each characterizing resistor in the characterizing resistors has a resistance value. A health of each squib in the squib circuit is determined based on the electrical signature of the squib circuit.